Jessica Keller - The Widower's Second Chance

“Hi there.” A voice in her doorway startled her. A man wearing too-short shorts and a whistle around his neck leaned against her doorjamb. Everything about him screamed gym teacher. “I’m Lenny. Didn’t get to introduce myself after the session this morning. Sure wish I had.”

“Nice to meet you.” She smiled but kept her hands on the pile of books. Maybe he’d get the hint that she wanted to put together her room and not chat. She was basically finished for the day, but Lenny didn’t need to know that.

Lenny sauntered into the room and propped his foot on the closest chair. “Timmons said you’re from Chicago. Do you live close to the park with that big metal bean? You know, down by the lake in the Lap of Chicago.”

“The Loop?”

“Yeah. You from there? The Loop?”

“No. Actually, I’m from the suburbs. It’s easier to say Chicago though because everyone knows where that is. And that’s where I taught, so a part of my heart does live there I guess.”

He leaned his hands on his knee. “I have a picture of myself by that bean on my desk in my office. You should come see it. Afterward we could grab something to eat if you want.”

Paige glanced down at her hands. “I...um...”

Bree’s loud cough as she entered Paige’s classroom saved her from answering. “Leave her alone, man. She just got into town.”

Lenny glared at Bree as he left the room. He gave Paige one last smile. “If you still want to see that picture or go to dinner, you know where the gym is. I’ll be testing out the weight room for the next hour or so.”

Bree doubled over in laughter. “Promise me you won’t fall for Lenny the Leech. Anyone but him, okay?”

“Is he always like that?” Paige fought a smile as she loaded books into her canvas bag to take home.

“Oh, sometimes he’s much worse.”

“I’ll keep my radar up.” She winked.

“Good, because there are a lot of cute, single guys in town. I wouldn’t want you to judge all of Goose Harbor’s bachelors based on Lenny.”

“As far as I’m concerned, they can all be like him.” Paige slung the canvas bag over her shoulder. The strap cut into her arm right away. Too many books, but she couldn’t think of one she didn’t want to bring home to help plan lessons. With her parents gone so often, books became the one, steadfast friend in her childhood.

“I promise they’re not.”

“It doesn’t matter. Believe me, dating is the last thing on my list.” Paige crossed to the windows she opened earlier to let in the late-summer breeze. She closed and locked each of them. “Actually, it’s not even on my list.”

“Is there someone back home?”

There should be. The familiar ache pushed its way into Paige’s heart. “There’s no one.”

“Well, if you reconsider, I’ll be your wingman...girl...you know what I’m saying.”

“How about you tell me what’s important about working here instead. You know, the unwritten rules.” She walked into the hallway with Bree and closed her classroom door.

“Gotcha.” Bree shoved a stick of gum into her mouth. “The parents here are really busy. Like—leave their home at five in the morning and get home at eight at night—busy. Most of them run shops in town and things like that to cater to the tourists so they expect us to keep their kids occupied. After-school activities are a big deal around here, especially now since there’s been some rumors of mischief at the beaches in the evenings.”

“Mischief?” Paige paused.

Bree stopped walking, too. “Spent bonfires. Empty beer bottles. The normal teenage stuff. Anyway, the PTA tends to turn on the teachers who aren’t super involved if you know what I mean.” She nodded to a couple of teachers who passed them as they made their way to the main entrance.

Paige stopped to reposition her bags. “What club are you in charge of?”

“Moi?” Bree laid her hand over her heart. “I run show choir.” She sang the last part.

“Can’t help you there. I know dogs that howl better than I sing.” Paige shrugged.

“Well, try to think of something.”

“I played volleyball all during college. I could probably coach.”

Bree shook her head. “You won’t believe it, but Amy’s the head volleyball coach and I’m guessing you don’t want to be her assistant.”

Paige shrugged. “I don’t even know her. For all I know she’s nice and we could be friends.”

“Keep dreaming. See you tomorrow.” Bree waved, headed out to the bike rack and dumped her belongings into the basket attached to her eye-piercing yellow bike.

Paige balanced her teaching binder in one hand and her messenger bag and canvas sack full of books in the other. She’d work up a sweat on the trek home. At least she’d worn comfortable shoes. If she finished all her work early, she’d reward herself with a trip down to the beach. Her toes were itching to feel the sand.

Principal Timmons came running down the front steps after her, waving his arms like a bird learning to fly. “Miss Windom!” The principal wiped his forehead with the back of his sleeve. “I keep forgetting I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“Mr. Timmons.” Paige smiled at her father’s old college roommate. The man had spent a couple of evenings every year around the Windoms’ dinner table, but he was her boss now. She had to think of him that way. “I didn’t get to thank you yet for hiring me.”

“There’s no need. You know I’ve wanted to offer you a position here ever since your dad told me you’d received your teaching degree. I’m just happy I had a job opening when you were ready to make the move.” He wheezed out the words. “Now, if you have a second, would you mind coming back with me to my office? It’ll only take a moment.”

“Is something wrong?” Paige tensed.

“Not at all. I just need to go over something with you. Right this way.”

Paige followed the principal down a hallway of dark blue lockers and through the door labeled Administration.

What could he want? Maybe there were still some papers to sign.

“Go ahead and take a seat in my office.” Timmons held open the door.

She took a deep breath and turned the corner, but then stopped dead in her tracks. Caleb sat in one of the two chairs situated in front of the principal’s desk. What was he doing there? Caleb had changed out of the shirt she’d spilled coffee on. Now he wore a deep maroon T-shirt that complemented his dark complexion, trim beard and mocha-colored hair. He looked more approachable, like that handyman from the other day.

His eyes narrowed a fraction in her direction.

Scratch approachable. He looked downright stern. Like a man about to give a kid detention for daring to text during class.

A surge of ice ran through Paige’s veins as a realization hit her. Had Caleb told Timmons about her breakdown yesterday? She had no other connection to him, save being a teacher. So why would they both be called to the principal’s office? For all she knew Caleb could be in cahoots with Amy, the woman who wanted Paige’s position. Really, why else would he be here? English and science were on different ends of the spectrum.... They didn’t even teach the same grade. It had to be another reason.

Suppose he told Principal Timmons he saw her sobbing over her breakup, what would that mean? She couldn’t lose her job for that sort of thing. Maybe get ordered to see the school counselor, but not lose her position. She couldn’t. Not after upending her life to be here. After everything her father had done for him, how could Timmons listen to Caleb over her?

Her nails bit into her palms.

Why had she even trusted that he wouldn’t tell? She knew better. If the past couple of years had taught her one thing it was that men lied. Dad. Bryan. Tommy. And Jay. All men.